Brisbane ferry strike to halt city commute

A reduced service will run today or tomorrow as a result of the strike. Picture: File photo/AAP/David ClarkSource:News Corp Australia

THOUSANDS of Brisbane commuters have been urged to plan ahead today as the city’s ferry drivers starting a two-day strike.

The strike started at 4am today and will last until the end of tomorrow, with workers expressing their anger over what they claim is a lack of job security and low wages.

They also accuse ferry operator Transdev of eroding maintenance and safety standards under the contract it holds to run CityCat and CityFerry services for the Brisbane City Council.

Striking workers gathered at the Hawthorne ferry terminal this morning, chanting “no guts, no spine” as they demand a better deal from ferry operator Transdev.

Transdev, which has a contract to run ferry services for the Brisbane City Council, says it’s doing its best to keep as many services as possible running.

The Maritime Union of Australia apologised to commuters for the disruption, but said the company has failed to budge on workers’ demands.

Moggill residents oppose bridge to replace the ferry1:57

The Moggill Ferry crossing has been in operation for 130 years although one day it is expected to be superseded by a bridge

November 19th 2018

6 months ago

/display/couriermail.com.au/Web/CourierMail/CM QLD News and Photos/

CityCat services will be running at a reduced frequency both days (details below) and are expected to be busier than usual. Customers are encouraged to use alternative routes to travel where they are available.

The Maritime Union of Australia claims many workers are being paid under-award rates, and many had no sense of job security because they were employed on casual contracts.

However the company which employs the drivers, Transdev, has strongly rejected the claims, and urged the union to work with them to resolve the outstanding issues.

It’s understood the company and the union have been at loggerheads for almost a year over the issue.

DURING THE STRIKE:

• CityCats will run every 30 minutes throughout the day

• The Bulimba to Teneriffe Cross River ferry will operate as normal

• CityCat connections between Bulimba and Teneriffe will be affected by the reduced frequency of CityCats

• The CityHopper will operate at reduced frequency

• The Kangaroo Point Cross River Ferry and Norman Park Cross River Ferry services will not operate

Also adding to commuter woes this morning are several changes to train services.

TransLink said Beenleigh and Gold Coast line trains in both directions were running express this morning through Yeerongpilly due to “an incident requiring emergency services”.

Rollingstock issues also caused disruptions to several services this morning.